Contrite Tevez accepts his punishment

Monday 27 November 2006 21:52 BST

Carlos Tevez returned to West Ham on Monday to apologise to Alan Pardew and his team-mates for his walk-out.

Tevez stormed away from Upton Park after being substituted 24 minutes from the end of Saturday's 1-0 win against Sheffield United. He jumped into his car and drove straight back to his Docklands flat, but suggestions that he would be on the next plane to Buenos Aires proved wide of the mark.

Tevez reported as normal at the Hammers' training ground in Chadwell Heath yesterday to say sorry and accept his punishment. The Argentina striker will be fined, although Pardew has decreed that the actual amount will be decided by the players' committee and will then be donated to Great Ormond Street Hospital.

Tevez, 22, said: 'I left the ground in anger. It was a spur of the moment decision and I regretted it straight away.

'I was very wrong in going and I made it clear to the manager and my team-mates that I in no way meant to be disrespectful to them.'

Pardew is prepared to forget the episode after accepting the apology and wants Tevez and his compatriot Javier Mascherano to stay at Upton Park.

Their long-term futures remain unclear, however, not least because their ownership is so closely tied to the failed takeover bid of Kia Joorabchian.

The Argentines are owned by Joorabchian's former company MSI, although the Hammers hold their registration for another three and a half seasons. Tevez's temper may have snapped when he was hauled off on Saturday, but Mascherano was not even among Pardew's subs for the key Premiership game against the Blades.

Hayden Mullins, who was ousted from the team when Mascherano arrived from Corinthians in August, has fought back to reclaim his place from the Argentina midfielder.

He capped a superb display with the only goal of the game against Sheffield United, but has sympathy for Mascherano's situation. Mullins said: 'Javier is a great player and he's shown that on the world stage. He's just having to learn the game at the moment in the Premier League and when he does I'm sure he'll be a massive player for us.'

Defender Danny Gabbidon has been ruled out for four weeks with a hamstring injury sustained during Saturday's 1-0 victory.

The 27-year-old Wales international was carried off in the 63rd minute following a challenge from Frenchman Christian Nade.